Chapter One

A-1 The best, top of the heap
"That's my baby,' I said. 'We'll have our good times. Just you and me and thirty grand; maybe five or ten more if it's an A-1 job." From the novel Savage Night, Jim Thompson, 1953

A-Bomb juice Moonshine liquor

A-OK Fine, all in order, just right

A double this time, waiter. Your singles keep leaking The correct way to order drinks From Ocean's Eleven, the novel of the film screenplay, George Clayton Johnson and Golden Russell, 1960

A Shape in a drape Someone who looks good in clothes, is sharply dressed

Abyssinia See you later (I'll be seein' ya.)

Ace 1. Something superlative, the top

2. One dollar

3. A marijuana cigarette

4. A policeman

"'Who's chasin' you, Frankie?"
The aces. They're goin' to pin the sluggin' on me.' "
From the novel The Man with the Golden Arm, Nelson Algren, 1949

5. "An outstanding, regular fellow."
From the booklet The Jives of Doctor Hepcat, Lavada Durst, 1953

Ace in the hole Something in reserve, an advantage, secret weapon, deriving from cardplayers having an ace up their sleeve See the jazz recording Ace in the Hole, The Black Diamond Seranaders, 1926.

Ace out Cheat, defraud

Aces up Something mighty fine, excellent

Action What's happening,
e.g., "Where's the action, pops?"

Adobe dollar Mexican peso

Age of pain Prohibition, the time of the 18th Amendment, which lasted from January 1920 until December 1933

Agitate the gravel Leave, depart, vamoose